In the first volume of this series (Naxos 8571382), Matthew Schellhorn surveyed six decades of Herbert Howells’s compositions for the piano. This second volume reprises the journey, tracing the composer’s stylistic development from the charming poetic miniatures of his youth through to the resonant modal quirkiness of his later dances. The survey includes a centrally important work, the Sonatina of 1971, performed here in Schellhorn’s own edition compiled from the manuscript sources, which includes variants not heard for half a century.

A prominent performer of new music, Matthew Schellhorn has given over 140 premieres and has commissioned many solo and chamber works. He has recorded numerous critically acclaimed albums, including his previous release on Naxos, Howells: Piano Music Vol.1 (8571382).

‘Schellhorn is an excellent and intelligent pianist. These performances will serve as an excellent reference but also as creative stimulus to other pianists who want to explore this repertoire’ – American Record Guide

‘Immaculately stylish, raptly concentrated and memorably tender advocacy’ – Gramophone

‘In Matthew Schellhorn, Howells has found an ideal musical champion and interpreter’ – MusicWeb International